Aruba All-Inclusive Travel Guide

Do you need a passport, visa, or ED Card?

U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport (good for the length of your stay) but no visa for visits up to 90 days.

Aruba does require an online ED Card (Embarkation/Disembarkation form) completed within 72 hours before arrival, which also collects a $20-per-person sustainability fee. Fill it out at the official aruba.com site and save the confirmation to your phone.

Is Aruba safe?

Aruba is one of the Caribbean's safest destinations; the U.S. State Department keeps it in its lowest-risk tier (the current level is shown at the top of this guide). Petty theft is the main thing to guard against; secure your valuables and you'll have an easy, relaxed trip. Check travel.state.gov before you go.

Currency and tipping

The Aruban florin is the local currency, but U.S. dollars are accepted virtually everywhere, so there's no need to exchange. Restaurants often add a service charge; otherwise tip 10–15% for good service, with a few dollars for housekeeping and drivers.

When to visit

Aruba is a true year-round destination; it sits below the hurricane belt, so even late summer and fall, risky elsewhere in the Caribbean, are reliably sunny and dry here. It's breezy and warm almost always; prices peak December through April.

Getting there & around

Fly into Queen Beatrix International (AUA) at Oranjestad, an easy hop from the U.S. East Coast with U.S. customs preclearance on the way home (you clear before you fly, so you land stateside as a domestic arrival). Aruba drives on the right; resort transfers, taxis, and an easy bus line along the hotel strip cover most needs.

What to do beyond the resort

Beyond Palm and Eagle beaches, take a UTV or jeep tour into rugged Arikok National Park, snorkel the Antilla shipwreck, find the natural pool (Conchi), and watch sunset at the California Lighthouse. The water is calm, clear, and ideal for first-time snorkelers.

Good to know

Power & plugs: 120V, same as the U.S. Language: Dutch and Papiamento officially, but English is universal. Water: Aruba's tap water is desalinated and safe to drink. Sunscreen: reef-safe. Dress: casual and beachy.